Anchorage Museum to show rare Machetanz prints

Posted: November 17, 2011 - 1:02am

Fred Machetanz, one of the state’s most popular artists, was known for his paintings and prints depicting daily life in Alaska. One of his most impressive accomplishments was the creation of 50 stone lithographs between 1946 and 1980; today the lithographs are some of his most sought-after work. Only three public institutions are known to have complete sets.

Fine art lithography is a notoriously frustrating medium. First an image is drawn with a greasy substance onto a flat, prepared stone. Then, the image is etched into the stone’s surface, so the grease etching will repel ink. One-by-one, the stone is inked and an impression is made on paper. If one thing goes wrong, the print is irreparable.

The Anchorage Museum is the largest museum in Alaska and one of the top 10 most visited attractions in the state. Learn more at www.anchoragemuseum.org.